This article is from page 12 of the 2006-10-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
CLARE County Council are hoping that its first successful prosecution for backyard burning will act as a deterrent to up to a fifth of Clare people who dispose of waste in this manner.
Last month the first ever Clare defendant in such a case was fined by Ennis District Court and ordered to pay costs arising out of the incident in the town in March.
The council has described the successful prosecution as a “significant development in Clare County Council’s strategy to reduce backyard burning and other illegal activity involving waste in the county”.
The prosecution followed an incident on March 28 when an estate manager for Ennis Town Council and a litter warden for the same authority observed a fire at the rear of a dwelling in Ennis.
The Waste Management Act 1996 – 2005 states, “a person shall not hold, transport, recover or dispose of waste in a manner that causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution”.
The incident was then referred to the Waste Enforcement Unit of Clare County Council. On September 28, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge at Ennis District Court. The judge fined the defendant €100 together with costs of €580 with 120 days to pay.
According to Betty Devanny, Environment and Emergency Services Directorate, Clare County Council, “In the draft waste management plan for Clare/Limerick/Kerry, it’s estimated that 38 per cent of households do not avail of a waste collection service. It doesn’t necessarily follow that 38 per cent of households are illegally dumping or burning their waste, as an increasing number of people take waste directly to transfer stations and Recycling Centres – this is perfectly legitimate.
“However, estimates still suggest that between 10-20 per cent of waste is being burned, or in some cases illegally dumped,” she said.
Ennis Town Councillor Frankie Neylon said “We have serious issues in parts of Ennis whereby backyard burning is being used by individuals as an alternative to the proper disposal of waste.
“I look forward to seeing Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council making further successful prosecutions in a bid to curb this illegal activity,” Councillor Neylon added.